Moisture indicator

ABSTRACT

A moisture indicator for a refrigeration system. The moisture indicator includes a body for retaining refrigerant. The body includes an inlet, an outlet and an opening. A display member covers the opening of the body. An inner side of the display member contacts with the refrigerant. A lens assembly displays the color of the display member to the naked eye. The lens assembly is arranged on a receiving groove formed at the outside of the display member. The lens assembly is sealed within the receiving groove. The moisture indicator allows a user accurately to identify the color of the display member without disturbing the flow of the refrigerant. It also allows the user accurately to determine when to replace a filter drier and when to supplement the refrigerant.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

(1) Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to moisture indicators and particularly to an indicator to be used in a refrigeration system to show a moisture content of refrigerant.

(2) Description of the Related Arts

Generally, a refrigeration system, such as an air conditioner or a refrigerator, performs cooling and freezing operation by absorbing heat from the area to be cooled and giving out heat to the outside.

In a typical refrigeration system, cooling is achieved by the circulation of refrigerant in a closed system. The refrigerant is compressed to a high pressure by a compressor and is condensed through the condenser. Then the condensed refrigerant passes through an expansion valve into an evaporator where it evaporates and collects heat from the area to be cooled. From the compressor, the refrigerant is routed back to the condenser and the cycle repeats.

In the refrigeration system, moisture may be spontaneously introduced into the refrigerant from the air by repeating the compression and expansion processes. The moisture may be also introduced by leaking through pipe joints and valves. In case the refrigerant containing moisture circulates the inside of the refrigeration system, the refrigeration efficiency may be dropped and devices may be corroded. Moreover, the whole system can be damaged severely due to the moisture.

To solve the above problem, a filter drier has been used to the refrigeration system. The filter drier absorbs the moisture contained in the refrigerant, so that the refrigeration system is maintained in good operating condition.

Together with the filter drier, a moisture indicator is used to check the moisture content of the refrigerant. When the filter drier has completed its span, the moisture content of the refrigerant may be increased. Then, the indicator notifies a user of the increasing of the moisture content.

A conventional moisture indicator comprises a display part whose color is changed according to the moisture content included in the refrigerant. The user can see the color of the display part with naked eyes through a transparent window. For example, when the displayed color means that the filter drier is used up, the filter drier can be replaced with a new one.

In the conventional moisture indicator, it is difficult to discriminate the color of the display part, because the display part has too small size and soaks in the refrigerant with a low degree of transparency. Therefore, the replacement time of the filter drier cannot be exactly obtained by the conventional moisture indicator.

Further, it has an additional problem that the display part disturbs the flow of the refrigerant.

On the other hand, the moisture indicator generally has O-rings for preventing a leakage of the refrigerant. When the O-rings are used for long time, it does wear out. In case of deteriorating the sealing capacity of the O-rings, the refrigerant of high pressure can be leaked out from the gaps of the transparent window.

The present invention has been developed to solve the problems with above-described moisture indicator.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a moisture indicator for allowing a user to identify exactly the display color of the indicator without disturbing the flow of the refrigerant.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a moisture indicator capable of improving the sealing force in a body thereof and preventing refrigerant from leaking outside.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a moisture indicator for allowing a user to determine exactly the replacement time of a filter drier and the supplementation time of refrigerant in a refrigeration system.

According to an aspect of the present invention there is provided a moisture indicator for a refrigeration system.

The moisture indicator comprises a body for containing refrigerant therein, which includes an inlet formed in one end thereof, an outlet formed the other end thereof and an opening formed between the inlet and the outlet;

a display member for covering the opening of the body, which has a shape of a flat board and whose inner side contacts with the refrigerant flowing through the refrigerant containing space of the body, so that its color is changed by moisture included in the refrigerant;

a lens assembly for displaying the color of the display member with naked eyes, which is arranged on a receiving groove of the body formed the outside of the display member; and

a sealing means for sealing up the lens assembly in the receiving groove of the body.

The display member is a ring type indicator whose diameter is at least greater than that of the opening of the body and which has a refrigerant display window in the center thereof.

The lens assembly comprises a lens made of glass and a housing for enclosing the lens, and a male screw is formed on the outer circumferential surface of the lens housing, so as to screw into a female screw formed on the surroundings of the opening of the body.

It is desirable that the sealing means is a silver soldering or an adhesive.

The moisture indicator further comprise a lens cap for covering the lens assembly to protect it; and an exemplification paper for comparing with the color of the display member, which is attached to the surroundings of the lens assembly.

It is desirable that the moisture indicator is formed in a ball valve of the refrigeration system as one body.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an illustrated perspective view showing the moisture indicator according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a lateral cross-sectional view of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a lateral cross-sectional view showing an assembled state of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing a lens assembly of FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a lateral cross-sectional view showing the used state of FIG. 1.

FIG. 7 is a top view showing an exemplification paper and a display member of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

Referring now to attaching the drawings, the moisture indicator according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail. It is noted that like parts are designated by like reference numerals throughout the accompanying drawings.

As shown FIGS. 1 and 2, the moisture indicator of the present invention comprises a body 10, a display member 20, a lens assembly 30, a sealing means (not shown), a lens cap 50, and an exemplification paper 60.

The body 10 for containing refrigerant 1 has an inlet 11 for introducing the refrigerant 1, an outlet 12 for exhausting the refrigerant 1, an opening 13 for coupling the display member 20 and the lens assembly 30. The refrigerant 1 flows in the containing space A of the body 10.

The inlet 11 is formed in one end of the body 10 and an outlet 12 is formed in the other end of the body 10. The opening 13 is formed to open upward from the body 10 between the inlet 11 and the outlet 12, and a receiving groove 14 is formed around the opening 13.

Alternatively, the opening 13 may be formed to open downward or lateral from the body 10.

The display member 20 has a shape of a flat board for covering the opening 13 of the body 10. The inner side of the display member 20 is contacted with the refrigerant 1 flowing through the containing space A, so that the color of the display member 20 is changed by the moisture included in the refrigerant 1. The display member 20 is a flat ring type indicator whose diameter is at least greater than that of the opening 13 of the body 10 and a refrigerant display window 21 is formed in the center thereof.

The display member 20 is laid over the opening 13. One side of the display member 20 facing the opening 13 is contacted to the refrigerant 1 and the other side is exposed to outside, so that a user can show the color of the display member 20 through the lens assembly 30 with the naked eyes.

The display member 20 includes a reaction material that chemically or physically reacts on moisture, so that its color changes in response to the moisture of the refrigerant 1.

In case the refrigerant 1 includes little or no moisture, the reaction material of the display member 20 contacted to the refrigerant 1 shows, for example, green color, and in case the refrigerant 1 includes some of moisture, the material shows, for example, yellow color. Since the material which changes its color according to moisture has been generally known, we will omit the details here.

Moreover, the user can also check the quantity of the refrigerant 1 through the refrigerant display window 21. When the quantity of refrigerant 1 is insufficient, the user may supplement the refrigerant 1.

The lens assembly 30 is arranged on the receiving groove 14 of the body 10 formed the outside of the display member 20, so that it allows the user to check the color of the display member 20 with the naked eyes.

As shown FIG. 5, the lens assembly 30 comprises a lens 31 made of glass and a housing 32 for enclosing the lens 31. A male screw 33 formed on the outer circumferential surface of the lens housing 32 is screwed with a female screw 15 formed on the surroundings of the opening 13 of the body 10.

The display member 20 is magnified by lens 31 so that its color is clearly displayed. That is, the user has good view of the display member 20 through the lens 31. Further, the lens 31 allows the user to identify through the refrigerant display window 21 whether it is required to supplement the refrigerant.

The sealing means seals up the lens assembly 30 in the receiving groove 14 of the body 10. It is desirable that the sealing means is a silver soldering 40. The lens assembly 30 is sealed and fixed up permanently in the receiving groove 14 by the silver soldering 40.

Alternatively, for example, an adhesive may be used as the sealing means.

The lens cap 50 covers the lens 31 of the lens assembly 30 to protect it. The lens cap 50 has a handle part 52 formed on the outer circumferential surface thereof. A protrusion part is formed on the inner circumferential surface of the lens cap 50 so as to forcibly engage with the body 10.

The lens cap 50 can be made as a “closed” type without a transparent window. In such a case, in order to identify the color of the display member 20 through the lens 31, the user should open the lens cap 50.

On the other hand, as shown FIGS. 1 and 6, an “opened” type of lens cap 50 having a transparent window 51 can be used. In such a case, the user can identify the color of the display member 20 through the transparent window 51 without opening the lens cap 50.

The exemplification paper 60 is attached to the surroundings of the lens assembly 30 to allow the user to contrast and compare its color with the color of the display member 20. As shown FIG. 7, the user can compare the color of the exemplification paper 60 with that of the display member 20 at a glance. Therefore, the user can exactly determine the replacement time of the filter drier.

Next, the operation of the moisture indicator according to the present invention will be described below.

As shown FIGS. 4 and 5, while the refrigerant 1 is passed through the inlet 11 of the body 10, the refrigerant containing space A and the outlet 12 by turns, one surface of the display member 20 may be contacted with the excessive moisture included in the refrigerant 1. Then, the other surface of the display member 20 as well as the one surface is changed to a warning color, for example, yellow color. Therefore, the user can identify the changed color of the display member 20 through the lens 31 and replace promptly the filter drier with a new one.

The display member 20 has a flat ring shape, so that its color can be displayed through the lens 31 without disturbing the flow of the refrigerant.

In addition to the above function, the display member 20 also allows the user to show the quantity of the refrigerant 1 through the refrigerant display window 21. Accordingly, the user can determine the supplementation time of the refrigerant according to the shown quantity of the refrigerant.

Next, it will be described how the moisture indicator in accordance with the present invention attached to a refrigeration system.

The moisture indicator should be connected to circulation pipes of the refrigeration system. Generally, welding is used to connect the moisture indicator and the pipes. However, this is not desirable because the cost of the welding is high and the length of the whole system becomes long.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the moisture indicator is formed in a ball valve of the refrigeration system as one body. The ball valve controls flow of refrigerant in the refrigeration system.

On the other hand, it is desirable that the filter direr is arranged individually with the ball valve because the filter drier should be changed more frequently than the moisture indicator.

The moisture indicator and the ball valve may be arranged in a line. The filter drier is placed in a side of the ball valve having the moisture indicator. The moisture indicator formed in the ball valve as one body can check a moisture content included in the refrigerant passed through the filter drier.

As described above, the moisture indicator according to the present invention has the effects as follows:

First, the user can easily identify the color of the display member without disturbing the flow of the refrigerant.

Second, the sealing force of the body is largely improved to prevent the refrigerant from leaking outside.

Third, comparing the color of the display member with that of the exemplification paper at a glance, the user can determine exactly the replacement time of the filter drier.

Forth, the user can determine the supplementation time of the refrigerant by checking the quantity of the refrigerant.

Fifth, since the moisture indicator is formed in a ball valve of a refrigeration system as one body, the installation cost and the size of a refrigeration system can be reduced.

Although the present invention has been fully described by way of examples with reference to the accompanying drawings, it is to be noted that various changes and modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Therefore, unless such changes and modifications depart from the scope of the present invention, they should be construed as being included therein. 

1. A moisture indicator, which comprises: a body for containing refrigerant therein, which includes an inlet formed in one end thereof, an outlet formed in the other end thereof and an opening formed between the inlet and the outlet; a display member for covering the opening of the body, which has a shape of a flat board and whose inner side contacts with the refrigerant flowing through the refrigerant containing space of the body, so that its color is changed by moisture included in the refrigerant; a lens assembly for displaying the color of the display member with naked eyes, which is arranged on a receiving groove of the body formed the outside of the display member; and a sealing means for sealing up the lens assembly in the receiving groove of the body.
 2. A moisture indicator according to claim 1, wherein the display member is a ring type indicator whose diameter is at least greater than that of the opening of the body and which has a refrigerant display window in the center thereof.
 3. A moisture indicator according to claim 1, wherein the lens assembly comprises a lens made of glass and a housing for enclosing the lens, and a male screw is formed on the outer circumferential surface of the lens housing, so as to screw into a female screw formed on the surroundings of the opening of the body.
 4. A moisture indicator according to claim 1, wherein the sealing means is a silver soldering.
 5. A moisture indicator according to claim 1, wherein the sealing means is an adhesive.
 6. A moisture indicator according to claim 1, further comprising: a lens cap for covering the lens assembly to protect it; and an exemplification paper for comparing with the color of the display member, which is attached to the surroundings of the lens assembly.
 7. A ball valve for a refrigeration system, which is formed as one body with the moisture indicator according to claim
 6. 8. A ball valve for a refrigeration system, which is formed as one body with the moisture indicator according to claim
 5. 9. A ball valve for a refrigeration system, which is formed as one body with the moisture indicator according to claim
 4. 10. A ball valve for a refrigeration system, which is formed as one body with the moisture indicator according to claim
 3. 11. A ball valve for a refrigeration system, which is formed as one body with the moisture indicator according to claim
 2. 12. A ball valve for a refrigeration system, which is formed as one body with the moisture indicator according to claim
 1. 